Rotary air homogenizer

Abstract

An air mixing system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a conduit configured to receive a first airflow and a second airflow and to discharge the first airflow and the second airflow as a mixed airflow via an outlet of the conduit. The air mixing system also includes a thermal wheel disposed within the conduit. The thermal wheel is configured to direct the first airflow and the second airflow thereacross, rotate within the conduit, and transfer heat between the first airflow and the second airflow.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An air mixing system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a conduit defining an airflow path and configured to receive two or more airflows, to direct the two or more airflows along the airflow path, and to discharge the two or more airflows as a mixed airflow; and 
 a thermal wheel disposed entirely within the airflow path of the conduit, wherein the conduit is configured to direct the two or more airflows across the thermal wheel, and the thermal wheel is configured to rotate within the conduit to further mix the two or more airflows to generate the mixed airflow. 
 
     
     
       2. The air mixing system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is configured to receive an outside airflow from an ambient environment as a first airflow of the two or more airflows, and the conduit is configured to receive a return airflow from a space conditioned by the HVAC system as a second airflow of the two or more airflows. 
     
     
       3. The air mixing system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal wheel comprises a plurality of channels extending between a first face of the thermal wheel and a second face of the thermal wheel, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is configured to receive the two or more airflows. 
     
     
       4. The air mixing system of  claim 3 , wherein the thermal wheel comprises a desiccant material configured to transfer moisture between a first airflow of the two or more airflows and a second airflow of the two or more airflows. 
     
     
       5. The air mixing system of  claim 1 , comprising one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to provide feedback indicative of one or more characteristics of at least one airflow of the two or more airflows, the mixed airflow, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. The air mixing system of  claim 5 , comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the thermal wheel and to the one or more sensors, wherein the controller is configured to regulate operation of the thermal wheel based on the feedback from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
       7. The air mixing system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a temperature, a humidity level, a pressure, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       8. The air mixing system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit defines a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the thermal wheel relative to a direction of the two or more airflows through the conduit. 
     
     
       9. The air mixing system of  claim 8 , wherein the conduit defines a component chamber disposed downstream of the thermal wheel relative to the direction of the two or more airflows through the conduit. 
     
     
       10. The air mixing system of  claim 9 , comprising a heating coil, a cooling coil, a humidifier, or any combination thereof disposed within the component chamber, wherein the heating coil, the cooling coil, the humidifier, or the combination thereof is configured to modify one or more parameters of the mixed airflow. 
     
     
       11. The air mixing system of  claim 9 , comprising a fan disposed within the component chamber, wherein the fan is configured to draw the two or more airflows through the conduit and across the thermal wheel. 
     
     
       12. An air mixing unit, comprising:
 a conduit defining an airflow path, wherein the conduit is configured to direct a stratified airflow along the airflow path; and 
 an enthalpy wheel disposed entirely within the airflow path of the conduit, wherein the enthalpy wheel is configured to rotate within the conduit and transmit the stratified airflow therethrough to mix the stratified airflow and generate a mixed airflow. 
 
     
     
       13. The air mixing unit of  claim 12 , wherein the stratified airflow comprises two or more airflows, and the conduit is configured to separately receive the two or more airflows. 
     
     
       14. The air mixing unit of  claim 13 , wherein the enthalpy wheel is configured to receive a first airflow of the stratified airflow at a first lateral location within the conduit, and the enthalpy wheel is configured to discharge the first airflow of the stratified airflow at a second lateral location within the conduit, different than the first lateral location. 
     
     
       15. The air mixing unit of  claim 13 , wherein the enthalpy wheel is configured to transfer moisture between the two or more airflows of the stratified airflow. 
     
     
       16. The air mixing unit of  claim 15 , wherein the enthalpy wheel is configured to transfer heat between the two or more airflows of the stratified airflow. 
     
     
       17. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a duct defining an airflow path, wherein the duct is configured to direct two or more airflows through the airflow path in a flow direction; and 
 a rotary air homogenizer disposed entirely within the airflow path of the duct, wherein the rotary air homogenizer is configured to receive the two or more airflows and to rotate to generate a mixed airflow comprising the two or more airflows. 
 
     
     
       18. The HVAC system of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a first duct configured to receive a first airflow of the two or more airflows and to direct the first airflow to the rotary air homogenizer; and 
 a second duct configured to receive a second airflow of the two or more airflows and to direct the second airflow to the rotary air homogenizer. 
 
     
     
       19. The HVAC system of  claim 17 , comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to receive feedback indicative of one or more characteristics of the two or more airflows; 
 a motor coupled to the rotary air homogenizer, wherein the motor is configured to induce rotation of the rotary air homogenizer; and 
 a controller configured to operate the motor to control a speed of the rotation based on the feedback from the one or more sensors. 
 
     
     
       20. The HVAC system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a first set of sensors positioned upstream of the rotary air homogenizer relative to the flow direction and a second set of sensors positioned downstream of the rotary air homogenizer relative to the flow direction, wherein the first set of sensors comprises a first sensor array, and the second set of sensors comprises a second sensor array.